A Blackbird called 'Ruffles'

  

 

For a while there has been at least four male Blackbirds in my garden, maybe five and two or three females.

It's hard to sometimes tell one male from another, but after a while you see different things and sometimes they have little quirks which help to identify them too.

 

I like to give my birds a name, it helps when keeping notes about them and I swear that over the years some have responded when I call their name.

The Blackbird above is called 'Ruffles' as named by my friend Mary over at Daisytrail. Its a great name considering how ruffled his feathers are from lots of nest activity.

Several weeks ago he had a bad leg but that seems to be OK now.

'Ruffles' has a little mark on his face by his beak on his right side, which I hope stays after he moults.

He is not as confident as two of the other males but like them he  will come looking for food and look in the window/door until I go out to feed him.

 

Made using one of the fabulous kits from Digifiddle Designs called 'Summer Secrets'.

 

thanks for stopping by x

 



The Busy Robin

 

 

 

 

 

It was easy to get a photo as this is the Robin that will often come up on to my pot of fat pellets while I am holding it.

When I spotted him waiting outside the back door I knew what he wanted but the pot was empty. I had to run off and quickly get some and tell him to wait - which he did - must be the way I whistled at him or maybe I've learnt to speak Robin at last :)

So he was very obliging and posed nicely for me just before my camera battery ran out and then flew off very happy with a mouthful of moth and fat.

 

The digi kit used to make this scrap page was 'One fine day' by G&T Designs. 

 

 

thanks for looking x

Garden Diary 23rd to 30th May 2015

 So these are a few things that caught my attention this week....

 

The Weigela always puts on a spectacular show.

 

 

Just love the way the light shows through the starlings wings

 

 

Pretending not to notice each other for now,

 but any minute now they will be

pushing and shoving like Sumo-wrestlers - they are so funny!

 



'Nick' the yellow-necked mouse

He's just got to be called 'Nick' with that lump
 missing out of one of his ears.
And boy can he move fast - it was dusk, photo taken through 2 panes of glass and a 'Yellow-necked mouse' that is there one minute and the next a streak of blur!


thanks for stopping by ...I'll be back regularly now x



Todays Pickings

We didn't really plan to grow anything this year but after a late decision to do some, luckily the weather made up for lost time and things are coming along nicely

There was one poor little strawberry left that somehow we managed to cut in half and share.
Made this digital layout using a kit called 'Jade' by Algera Designs

Cool Birds

Well for the last week it has been really quite hot here on the east coast of England. 
I have decided that spring and autumn are definitely my favourite times of year; the summer sun doesn't like me much. 
My poor old computer has been chugging away in the heat, gasping for breath on a few occasions, a bit like me, and so I have turned it off for a while to let it cool down.
Consequently I am a bit behind with what’s been going on in the garden.

The birds have been desperate to cool down too

© Gibby Frogett

© Gibby Frogett

 

 

Managed to capture some young Blue Tits having fun in a bottle bath.  Aren't they just adorable all wet and be-draggled.

© Gibby Frogett

 

Also saw a Great Tit too, something which I seem to be seeing less of lately. Could be one of those phases; things disappear for a while then suddenly return. Hope that’s the case for the Thrushes as not seen one for about a month or so now.

First young Robin 11th July 2013

At last - seen our first young Robin - about time too after the amount food the adults have been taking away over the last few months. Just as well we have our bird food delivered by the sack load!
Not good photo as taken again through glass.

Robin (juvenile) © Gibby Frogett

 ADJUGA © Gibby Frogett

The Adjuga is starting to fade and die but I quite like the colours it changes to first, its like having another plant flower as it's so different to the original colour.

 

DUNNOCK SUNBATHING   © Gibby Frogett

I couldn't believe how this Dunnock was spread out on the narrow horizontal strut of the fence. He did look funny, all fluffed up and trying to stretch out in the same way it would if on the ground.
He nearly fell off a few times too.

DUNNOCK © Gibby Frogett



DUNNOCK © Gibby Frogett

Birds always look so manic when they fluff up their feathers and have their mouth wide open.

LILAC BARK © Gibby Frogett

I thought this photo of some Lilac bark might be useful for some art projects as loved the texture. Not sure it's particularly healthy for the Lilac though.

In the garden 10th July 2013

I've had one of those weeks where you have to wait in for delivery men. One of those weeks, listening for the doorbell that doesn't ring after all as they have messed up delivery (grrrrrrrrrr) but now hopefully will come the next promised day... i.e tomorrow.. fingers crossed.....

So I've had lots of time to look and see what's going on in the garden - lots of activity as normal and there's been plenty of water fun too with the birds as it's been so hot.

© Gibby Frogett

SPIREA  © Gibby Frogett

© Gibby Frogett

The Spirea is starting to bloom.  A lovely Lacy looking flower.
This is so pretty when its in bud too.





 SPARROWS © Gibby Frogett

 

The Sparrows loved to investigate the water and have a little splash about.

DUNNOCK © Gibby Frogett

After the Sparrows had gone a Dunnock was more brave and sat under the running water for quite a while, fluffed up and enjoying himself splashing about too. That's him under the water on the left.



DUNNOCK © Gibby Frogett



ABUTILON © Gibby Frogett

© Gibby Frogett



I love the Abutilon although it's not been the easiest thing to grow. It's a bit straggly with not many leaves, although having said that it's the best its looked despite having been recently dug up and put in a pot for now.



MAGPIE FAMILY © Gibby Frogett

 

 

An awful photo I know, but taken through a couple layers of glass - had to grab camera quickly before they flew off. Thought they had two youngsters and this was the first time I'd seen the family altogether.